howiebrou Posted April 30, 2018 Share #1 Posted April 30, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am looking for a variable ND filter for my 50mm Noctilux. There seems to be only one on the market for 60mm (Heliopan). Does anyone have any experience with this brand? If I got a 62mm filter (which seems to be a much more common size) and an adaptor, would it interfere with the built in hood of the Noctilux. Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 30, 2018 Posted April 30, 2018 Hi howiebrou, Take a look here Variable ND Filters. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kunzhobel Posted April 30, 2018 Share #2 Posted April 30, 2018 Another premium alternative would be: B&W XS-Pro Vario. Gregor 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted April 30, 2018 Share #3 Posted April 30, 2018 I use Heliopan polarisers and have no complaints. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 1, 2018 Share #4 Posted May 1, 2018 Variable ND use two filters, as a general rule one filter (of good quality) will not degrade image performance. Two filters can degrade so you need to test the filter. My experience with the Heliopan Variable ND is it did degrade performance, whereas a cheaper Tiffen didn't. Tiffen (consumer grade) is not a brand I would normally prefer and Heliopan would be, however Variable ND are variable in quality as well as ND, so test whatever you buy. For the Noctilux I would attempt to purchase the 60mm but several years ago when I checked there were none, maybe someone has one now. Your hood will not provide much function with these filters and 62mm adapted filters will prevent the hood function. As an alternative I special ordered a 60mm 4 stop ND and am much happier with one filter rather than two, choosing to give up the abilities of the variable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted May 1, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted May 1, 2018 (edited) Another premium alternative would be: B&W XS-Pro Vario. Gregor Thanks. B& W would be my go to source but I don’t think they make a 60mm? I use Heliopan polarisers and have no complaints.Thanks. Variable ND use two filters, as a general rule one filter (of good quality) will not degrade image performance. Two filters can degrade so you need to test the filter. My experience with the Heliopan Variable ND is it did degrade performance, whereas a cheaper Tiffen didn't. Tiffen (consumer grade) is not a brand I would normally prefer and Heliopan would be, however Variable ND are variable in quality as well as ND, so test whatever you buy. For the Noctilux I would attempt to purchase the 60mm but several years ago when I checked there were none, maybe someone has one now. Your hood will not provide much function with these filters and 62mm adapted filters will prevent the hood function. As an alternative I special ordered a 60mm 4 stop ND and am much happier with one filter rather than two, choosing to give up the abilities of the variable. That’s what I would be afraid of and since i have to have it sent to me, I would worry about sending it back if it didn’t perform well. A 3-5 stop ND would be great but not widely available. May i ask you where you special ordered your 60mm 4 stop ND? Thanks. Edited May 1, 2018 by howiebrou Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kunzhobel Posted May 1, 2018 Share #6 Posted May 1, 2018 Thanks. B& W would be my go to source but I don’t think they make a 60mm? Thanks. In the german catalog is the 60mm Vario ND. (Page 7) https://schneiderkreuznach.com/application/files/4615/1134/6398/b_w-brochure-2016-de.pdf 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 1, 2018 Share #7 Posted May 1, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) That’s what I would be afraid of and since i have to have it sent to me, I would worry about sending it back if it didn’t perform well. A 3-5 stop ND would be great but not widely available. May i ask you where you special ordered your 60mm 4 stop ND? Thanks. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=60mm%20heliopan%20nd&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= The 4 stop now appears to be a normally stocked item, 5 or 6 stop is special order. 4 stop is barely enough nd on a bright day to get 1/4000 at f0.95 at iso 100, so you might consider 5 or 6 stops to allow for headroom, my preference is always less nd. Another brand you might check is Formatt Hitech, they are very responsive to emails and may be able to help, their filters are exceptional but may not be brass, so inquire about the mount also. Lastly, don't worry about multicoated, single coating is good enough unless you're always shooting high contrast subjects and want the slight improvement it might afford, normal subjects test the same with single and multicoating. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted May 1, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted May 1, 2018 In the german catalog is the 60mm Vario ND. (Page 7) https://schneiderkreuznach.com/application/files/4615/1134/6398/b_w-brochure-2016-de.pdf Thanks. I wonder why B&H doesn’t have it as a choice. On their drop down size selection the closest is 62mm ( Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kunzhobel Posted May 1, 2018 Share #9 Posted May 1, 2018 Thanks. I wonder why B&H doesn’t have it as a choice. On their drop down size selection the closest is 62mm ( I have the 46mm ND Vario Gregor Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted May 1, 2018 Share #10 Posted May 1, 2018 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=60mm%20heliopan%20nd&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= The 4 stop now appears to be a normally stocked item, 5 or 6 stop is special order. 4 stop is barely enough nd on a bright day to get 1/4000 at f0.95 at iso 100, so you might consider 5 or 6 stops to allow for headroom, my preference is always less nd. Another brand you might check is Formatt Hitech, they are very responsive to emails and may be able to help, their filters are exceptional but may not be brass, so inquire about the mount also. Lastly, don't worry about multicoated, single coating is good enough unless you're always shooting high contrast subjects and want the slight improvement it might afford, normal subjects test the same with single and multicoating. Why should it be brass? I think that does not matter. Further: Why not to buy the Leica ND 16x filter? This is the requested 4 stopp filter for the f/0.95. This is maybe a rethoric question as I am just switching to Formatt Hitech and I am very satisfied (as satisfied as with the 100mm Lee ND filters). I believe the the Leica product is of inferior quality. Anyway much worse than Lee or formatt hitech considering the color shift. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 1, 2018 Share #11 Posted May 1, 2018 Why should it be brass? I think that does not matter. Further: Why not to buy the Leica ND 16x filter? This is the requested 4 stopp filter for the f/0.95. This is maybe a rethoric question as I am just switching to Formatt Hitech and I am very satisfied (as satisfied as with the 100mm Lee ND filters). I believe the the Leica product is of inferior quality. Anyway much worse than Lee or formatt hitech considering the color shift. re: brass. The only reason I mentioned this is that I had recently purchased a Formatt Hitech filter expecting brass and the mount was somewhat flimsy, made of aluminum. I prefer brass, many times it doesn't matter but it does when shooting landscape in difficult situations where my hands are numb and it has been a long arduous day. re: Leica 16x ND. Thanks for the heads up, I wasn't aware of these. The Leica UV filters test very good, but so so expensive. The Leica aluminum rings may be the best I've ever used. My inclination is the same as yours, buy filters from a filter manufacturer. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted May 1, 2018 Share #12 Posted May 1, 2018 Thx. I understand your points. Re aluminium rings from Hitech: I did not think of anything when I got my first Hitech the other day. I just went to look again how the handling is. I think that there is no difference to thre Leica. That is actually good news. I think that there would be nothing to worry sbout aluminium with hitech Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted May 2, 2018 I have the 46mm ND Vario Gregor Thanks Gregor. 60mm seems to only exist on the B+W catalogue but not in shops! If anyone can find an online buyer with this size i would be most grateful! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted May 2, 2018 Share #14 Posted May 2, 2018 You may try this company: https://www.foto-huppert.de/ I haven't bought from them for several years now, but IIRC they can get you B+W filters easily, ship abroad and reply to emails in English. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share #15 Posted May 3, 2018 You may try this company: https://www.foto-huppert.de/ I haven't bought from them for several years now, but IIRC they can get you B+W filters easily, ship abroad and reply to emails in English. Thanks. Unfortunately, again it jumped from 58mm to 62mm. B+ W must have stopped making 60mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 3, 2018 Share #16 Posted May 3, 2018 As an alternative to 60mm you could use a 58mm with a step down ring, vignetting may occur with thicker filters such as polarizers and variable ND, but likely not with a single type thinner filter. When I did a quick test it was difficult to see any greater vignetting with the 58/step down combination on the Noctilux. Although not ideal it is an alternative to buying a filter you possess in a smaller size and then crop any vignetting. As an unintended consequence the added vignetting is quite often a nice effect when subtle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted May 3, 2018 Share #17 Posted May 3, 2018 Its a disgrace: With Formatt Hitech its the same: they have 58 and 62 . . . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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